Midterm elections have a reputation for being lackluster, but with a dead-heat gubernatorial race and other key issues drawing attention and debate among voters, this year promises to be anything but ho-hum in Massachusetts.

Election day is Tuesday. Polls are open in every Island town from seven in the morning until eight at night.

For Islanders, in addition to the numerous statewide contests and questions, there are a number of important local issues on the ballot, ranging from a school committee contest in the up-Island regional district to the much-watched race for Cape and Islands district attorney.

In the school committee race, six people are running for five seats, although only two candidates appear on the ballot while the other four are running as write-ins. It’s good to see candidates take an interest in serving on the school board, where many critical matters involving both education and public spending are decided every year. The district has two elementary schools and serves the three up-Island towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah.

In the district attorney race, longtime Cape and Islands DA Michael O’Keefe, a Republican, is facing a strong challenge this year from Rick Barry, a Democrat and Cotuit attorney. A central issue in the campaign has been the growing problem with opiate addiction and abuse on the Cape and Islands.

In the Martha’s Vineyard Commission biennial election there are no contests this year, with nine people running for nine at large seats, although some candidates are political newcomers.

The Dukes County Commission, which has been much in the news this year for its ongoing internal dispute with the airport commission which it appoints, has seven candidates running for seven seats. Four appear on the ballot and three are running as write-ins.

With five questions on the ballot, including one on whether to amend the bottle bill and another on whether to overturn the casino law, voters will need to do their homework before heading to the polls.

By longstanding tradition with only a handful of exceptions through the years, the Gazette does not endorse candidates, preferring to give voters as much detailed information as possible about the candidates and issues through news stories, interviews and commentaries. Those can all be found in today’s edition.

And then on Tuesday it will be up to you. Remember to vote.